[Two-dimensional contrast echocardiography during the drainage of hemopericardium with tamponade]

In patients with cardiac tamponade, withdrawing blood during pericardiocentesis raises questions as to its origin: pericardium or cardiac cavities? These questions can be answered by bidimensional contrast echocardiography after reinjection of a few millilitres of the blood-stained fluid removed. Microcavitations surrounding the heart and vanishing within a few minutes indicate that blood comes from the pericardium. Microcavitations obscuring the right atrium or ventricle and washed away by the blood flow in a matter of seconds indicate that these cavities have been punctured.